I'm after photos of most of these. Remember all those old shockers, most of which I climbed in. My first boots were the Hawkins Rock master, the EB super grattons (which I have shots of), the René Desmaisons clad in split brown havana suade that smelt marvellous. Asolo Canyons, Fires, Hawags, Chouinard shoes.

I still have my Chouinard Vasque Ascender shoes, although they were never horrible, or shockers. On the contrary, they were brilliant at what they were designed for, and the style of climbing of those days. I still use them occasionally!

What kind of photos would you like me to take of them, ie profile, base, general overview, all of the above?
What pixilation, ie suitable for ??
Hmm.
What are you using these photos for?

I'm doing a slideshow in Septemeber (details to no doubt be published soon) and would like some images to sober the audience used to form fitting sticky boots. To maximise amusement and utiltiy, could you display them here (small images) and also email the to me on miklclaw at gmail dot com.

Were the Vasques the utterly rigid shoes? I recall trying to solo a 5.12 at the gunks with a microedge on the crux, The fall was 6m onto deep soft grass and I took it a few times(or so my knees tell me now). One shot I stood up and was almost there and a foot blew off, and landed on the micro edge. i'd been happily edging on a micro-micro edge invisibly above the intended. Succesful ascent that time. Henry Barber used them exclusively.

On 24/08/2013 mikllaw wrote:>Were the Vasques the utterly rigid shoes?

Yes, they not only have a steel (plastic?) shank inside them, but also a small moulded heel as well as grooves in the sole.

The shoe (boot really), was designed to cope with any/all of; wearing on the approach, thrutching cracks, standing in ettriers, as well as edging.

They are high topped, leather construction, and have a rubber patch on the outside ankle-bone area for extra protection.
The grooved sole allowed one to rub their foot on gritty holds, so that any loose grit would move to the groove, allowing the rubber portion to provide unfettered friction.
The shank provided a stable platform for standing in etts, and lateral stability for edging, but being a short shank and positioned under the mid-sole, still allowed a bit of flex in the toe area for smearing.

The heel, stopped your foot slipping entirely through ett-steps, and provided more grip on downhill approach/departures from the climb.

I wish I had bought more of them at the time as spares so I can still use them in as-original condition, as my pair have worn on the toe area with aid use (so I keep repairing them), and the rubber is so old now that it is hard and relatively frictionless compared to how they used to be. They can be resoled, but where would one find anything like that classic design nowadays!

I will take some photos of them in natural light soon, and post/send same.

... and I found this under the rock they were displayed on!
Heh, heh, heh.

On 24/08/2013 mikllaw wrote:>and also email the to me on miklclaw at gmail dot com.>
Presumably with au on the end of that email addy?
... ~> after you confirm I will send!

A quote I came across that is half relevant to this thread?...
"Dont criticise someone till you have walked a mile in their shoes, at least then if they get angry they will be a mile away - and barefoot."
Heh, heh, heh.

On 25/08/2013 wallwombat wrote:>My first pair of climbing boots were a pair of Asolo Super Ratz that Ralph>sold me in 1986. They were so tight,my balls were hanging out my ears.>>So I went to MDs and Mikl sold me a pair of of bright red clown shoes>three sizes too big.>

Were these the Mikl designed Scorpions? They were my first pair of climbing shoes bought in MD's Melbourne... Still have them lightly used - as they were bought too large and were not much better than gumboots!

These were quickly replaced by a couple of pairs of Asolo Onsights bought in Hong Kong. Had one pair red and one pair bright yellow as below.

After numerous badly done resoles using resole kits, final wear was on opposite feet to use the outside edge- can't do that with asymmetrical climbing shoes of today!

On 25/08/2013 dalai wrote:>On 25/08/2013 wallwombat wrote:>>My first pair of climbing boots were a pair of Asolo Super Ratz that Ralph>>sold me in 1986. They were so tight,my balls were hanging out my ears.>>>>So I went to MDs and Mikl sold me a pair of of bright red clown shoes three sizes too big.>>>>Were these the Mikl designed Scorpions? They were my first pair of climbing shoes bought in MD's Melbourne... Still have them lightly used - as they were bought too large and were not much better than gumboots!

Some climbers make door mats out of their old climbing ropes, and then there are others on a distant isle who train their horrible old climbing boots to do other things...

Post edit:
Old doggers and new tricks; ... I await pictorial contributions from other climbing-shoe-experienced contributors like, BA, jrc, kuu, et al etc, as no doubt they would have pics of Dunlop Volleys at least!
;-)

>Were these the Mikl designed Scorpions? They were my first pair of climbing>shoes bought in MD's Melbourne... Still have them lightly used - as they>were bought too large and were not much better than gumboots!